Making memories.....

I was at my son's to watch my grandson for the week during the day while my son worked and my d-in-l is trying to finish her last semester at Penn State.     We had a great week.   We giggled and took walks in the woods and read stories and more.  We went to a Halloween Parade in which my son was in the Honor Guard leading off the parade and that excited Willy for sure to see daddy marching down the road in uniform.

Willy wore his Marshall Costume to the parade.    He made a good puppy.   This boy always has a stick in his had.   When we walked it was his wand that he waved to make the leaves fall from the trees or with a second stick he used as his bow and arrow to 'shot' the monster leaves.   What an imagination.

The fall foliage was beautiful not only on the ride out and back but also there.

We went on a scavenger hunt the first morning which went over so well that we repeated the "hunt" several times that week.   This little guy is so smart. We didn't need the list after the first day, he remembered almost all the things we needed.

   
We made spider webs.   You know a stitcher is going to teach a grandchild how to use a yarn needle to stitch up a spider web.  And that ball of twine used to make spider webs made the all around the furniture legs from the dining room and living room at one point.

We made skeletons out of q-tips.   Damma was a little off on her placement.   They look like they are doing squats.

 Cotton ball ghosts that when not hanging in the window were flying about the house.

 We made eyeballs.   Unfortunately I could find any red food coloring so the bloodshot eyes had black  and orange lines instead.   Willy didn't care.

And a skeleton cake that looks like a "Jason" mask.

A "Hyde and Eek" gingerbread house.

 Love those little hands that helped Damma do some stitches.

Stained glass-like pumpkins for the window.

Monster hands!

 Raking leaves, State College style.

Pumpkin and Frankenstein popsicle 'puppets'

 More Frankensteins.   Mom was impressed that I lacquered them.   No, just extra glue someone added that Damma spread all over the top.

 We went to playgrounds and pumpkin patches and a corn maze and a nature center and wow, Damma sure slept good each night.    

It was a great week helping out and making memories.     

One last vista.....I stopped at the overlook on top of the first mountain.   What a view.  Driving home was a visual joy.   The twists and hairpins turns through the autumnal trees with shear drops down the side of the road was slow going at times but a beauty to behold.  The ride as far as Harrisburg was beautiful as a viewed the mountains ahead that looked like someone took a crayola colored tablecloth and laid it out with intersecting folders to the left and ride and I was navigating through them.   Slowly I was back into civilization with shopping centers and traffic lights and horns beeping.   Ugh.

 Thanks for hanging in there.  
.....keep on stitching.....

Retail Therapy

Lots to share but I'm going to do it over a few posts.   I spent a week at my son's helping with babysitting when they were in a bind.....more on those antics later.     I set my ride home to pass through Strasburg PA planning a stop at Hodge Podge Cross stitch store.   It is not what I consider my LNS but it is closer than OCMD and I love any excuse to travel in the Lancaster County area.  It has been a couple of years since I have been to Hodge Podge and wow have they every increased their inventory!   They even had the new Sullivan Ball Point needles that I love.   So I did a bit of shopping and bought things I had no business buying.   When they have so many models stitched and displayed it is hard not to add them to a pile I was creating on the counter.  They were too cute and I used the "I am supporting a brick 'n mortar store" little voice in my head to rationalize.

The Mill Hill kits are complete which is a plus.   I like the newer Mill Hill that are not 100% beads.  I like those too but like this style better.

 I am always a sucker for a Lizzie Kate design.  The sample on display swayed this purchase for sure.

Next up, Liberty & Justice for all from one of my favorite designers, Beth Seal of Summer House Stitche Workes.   I'm thinking ahead for my Red, White and Blue Patriotic Christmas tree.

 I have an exchange at Prim Stitchers Society next spring in Asheville, NC.   Each of these is in the running for my exchange piece.  Again both were stitched and on display.

Before I got as far as Lancaster, I hit a consignment store in Belleville, PA.  I saw this contraption and checked it out.   I thought, this is way cool and the price was unbelievably low.    I photo'd it and shared it with my daughters.    Almost immediately they messaged back - Buy It!     I was already out in the car heading out......so repark, go inside and bought it.    I think I confused the Amish ladies by coming back in but confusion seems to be my middle name some days.....either I am confused or I am causing it.

Did I need this, no.    What am I going to do with it?   I don't know.  But I was just taken by it.    I am such a nostalgic sap......I thought of the loving husband who designed this for his stitchy wife.   It certainly is one of a kind which is probably why I gravitated to it.     I haven't had time to explore all the pockets.

I did find this "Jiffy Stitcher" in one pocket and I am sure there are more treasurers hidden in these pockets.   Daughter Heather 'collects' sewing machines.   Hey, no judging here.  Tom Hanks collects typewriters.   I think I will have to pass this to her for her collection.

And what could make this better you ask.  I got home to find my Jack's Stash from Sassy Jack's delivery.  

Back to reality and back to work tomorrow.   For today, I will log into work to get a handle on the week ahead and I need to unpack all the crafting supplies I took to entertain a three year old and then some stitching is in my future for this rainy afternoon.   Still can't clean but reno's are getting closer to being done.   Yeah!

Thanks for stopping by and I need to add, thank you for all the wonderful comments.   I am not that consistent with replying back but I do read and reread and appreciate each one.

........ keep on stitching.......

How does work in one room........

turn into this!!!!  Granted the new range and dishwasher have nothing to do with the bathroom upgrade except for the timing.....

Mr. Wonderful keeps saying for me to pick out whatever I want......while you may think that is a  fabulous driver's seat to be in........to me it puts the pressure on that if something ends up running amok it is on me.  Counting the days when everything is back in place.   Tiling started mid-week on the shower.  Yay!  I never thought I'd hear myself say I am dying to clean my house!  Seriously though, I am grateful we are getting this done, grateful we have to means to pay for it, grateful we are doing it before there was an emergency with broken pipes in the walls, grateful I have a roof over my head........things could be so much worse.   What's a bit of mess anyway?      Can't clean, guess I will take one for the team and  suffer through with with needle and thread and maybe a glass of pinot........

But wait, of course, Buddy Cat needs to be front and center on this reno.

As for stitching.......I have finished my pre-stitch for a class with Beth Seal, my pre-stitch for a class with Isobel of The Primitive Hare, finished a tinted towel from a guild class and finished a winter themed ornament for exchange at an upcoming class.

This is for the  ornament exchange at the Primitive Hare class.   This is one of Lizzie Kate's Snow Bells.  I hope it is a FFO by the end of the weekend.

And  I caved and have a new start.   I have been looking at cardinal patterns for a few years.   I found this one earlier this month at Salty Yarns.    Fell in love with the sparkly fabric.  Fingers crossed that the fabric looks AOK when the piece is finished.
That's a lot of DMC colors.

Time to drop back an punt though......I don't have any Kreinik #032 blending filament.   Better get on the phone to Salty Yarns.

I did pick out three more projects to add to the cardinal to round out the four projects for this year's EGA challenge.   We pick four projects to concentrate on.   At each monthly meeting a number is drawn and the corresponding project is our focus for the month.   I was really able to clean a lot up from my UFO basket last year.  

ABC by Jardin Prive'

Betsy Morgan's Virgin Queen Stitching Wallet - love doing blackwork

Betsy Morgan's Pioneer Girl's Etui - fell in love with this one but as usually, just completed the class portion and this was set aside.  Betsy Morgan is retiring in 2020.   I have a class with her in April 2020 so I want to get to work on these two just in case I have any questions about either one that I can ask in April.

At my September DVHGS Meeting, we learned about tinted linens.   Following the discussion we were instructed how to create our own.   Mine will be all done when I get the back stitch in.

Thanks for stopping by and........keep on stitching.

Weekend Away

Heather and I booked three days at a VRBO and stayed in Jim Thorpe PA.   It was such lovely time that we both needed.    She from overwork and me from over-contracting!  For us, it was a quick drive up the NorthEast Extension of the PA turnpike.  

The town of Jim Thorpe is an adorable turn of the century (1900's) town with a vast historic area.   Originally the town of Mauch Chunk, the town submitted their offer to change their name to "Jim Thorpe" when Mr. Thorpe's  third wife was looking for a town to pay tribute to her Olympian husband    Jim ran tract and field and went on to win a gold medal in the 1912 Olympics after finding his shoes stolen and scavenging in the trash to a pair to wear.    And wear them in style did he.  Mr. Thorpe was the first native American to win a gold medal in the Olympics. He played for the NY Giants as well as for six different football teams.

  For our trip, we drove around the picturesque area.    Below, is what is billed as a 100 mile view.    Unfortunately for us, the day was overcast.   

The signage in the lower right, offers a clear view with notations of the landmarks visible from the Delaware Water Gap on the left to a section on the Appalachian Trail on the right.

 Then we were off to the Lehigh Gorge Trail.

 The leaves were just, just starting to turn.   I am sure these area is brilliant with an array of colors now, just two week's later.

 Shop hopping and nature enjoying during the day.   Crafting and wine drinking in the evenings.

Looks,  our VBRO Owner must be a stitcher!

This was just the most adorable town.   It is set in a beautiful area.   It is known as the Switzerland of America because of the mountain setting.

Beauty was everywhere, even in the flowers peeking around the stonewall.

This is the view from our outdoor dining venue on the terraced dining area behind our restaurant.

When I tell you this town was in the mountains, I really mean it is build on the side of a mountain.   Front doors are at ground level, back doors are up at least a flight of stairs.

View from our room.

Look!   I found the Mertz's.....I refrained from knocking to ask for Fred and Ethel!

Civil War Memorial

Asa Packer Mansion.   Mr. Packer was a pioneer in the railroads and the founder of Lehigh University.

There are bike rentals, canoe rentals, train rides, kayak rentals, antique shops, fabulous dining, a few bars and pubs.......such a great little place.   I look forward to going back time and time again!

And more history of Mauch Chunk/Jim Thorpe, the jail where some of the Molly McGuire's were held before execution!  The Molly McGuire's were a vigilante sort of group of mostly Irish man.   They were  investigated by none other than the famous Pinkerton  Agency.

I did get some stitching done.   I finished up Sampler Santa and he has been delivered to the finisher.   I could have done him myself but........I know he would have lingered in that basket o' finishes for quite some time before I mustered the nerve and the time to complete him.   Looking forward to having him back before Christmas this year.

Heather being a goof-ball at a roadside stop.   She was supposed to be getting the scenery.   hmmmm, gray-hairs in their 'cage' more like it.

Thanks for stopping by.   I promise, more stitching and less gallivanting next time.   Keep on stitching!